Luna Parc, Montauge, NJ

I've been wanting to visit this house (Luna Parc) ever since I read about it in an issue of Weird NJ many years ago (still have the issue in our bathroom). Last night very randomly, someone sent me a notice that the owner, Ricky Boscarino, was having his open house this weekend! Cleared all my plans and set out on the 2 hour drive this morning. 

here is a brief description from the website Atlas Obscura: 

"Since 1989, when Ricky Boscarino stumbled upon the cabin in the woods and began transforming it into Luna Parc, it has been a massive work in progress.

Filled with mosaics influenced by Klimt, Gaudí and Hundertwasser, the house looks as if it had been plucked from some colorful dreamscape and deposited in the backwoods of New Jersey. Artist, designer and "King-o-Luna," Ricky Boscarino, has transformed the house both inside and out, with the interior of the house covered in his collections of homemade lamps, bottle caps, Buddhas, taxidermy, miniatures, stringed instruments, stained glass and religious icons. Currently Boscarino is collecting Mrs. Butterworth bottles and blue glass for new outdoor sculptures.

A skilled artist in many mediums, among other projects, Boscarino created a four panel stained-glass mural for his bathroom depicting the journey of life from spermatozoa to skeleton. When not working on his house, Boscarino makes and sells art and jewelry (much of it miniature versions of everyday objects, though you can get a miniature fetus and enema bag in gold and silver) and throws two large parties a year in fall and spring."

my review:

 So much beauty, art and creativity to behold. LOVE LOVE LOVE the bathroom. The clear banister upstairs housing NESTS was exquisite. Wanted to sit in the ballroom with a cool drink, some music and a book. By far, my fav was the chapel- hands down, so cool, peaceful and special. I appreciate the recycling, upcycling and Ricky's dedication to non mainstream traditional home decor. The influence from his travels is apparent and his lovely collections (Asian baby shoes- yum!). I hope to return to take a workshop

let my pictures tell the rest:

Polar Bear Plunge

yesterday dillon and i attended the 8th annual Sons of Ireland polar bear plunge. it is a fundraiser that disperses funds to Special Olympics, Clean Ocean Act and a few other charities. It was a lot of fun. There was a band playing inside the convention center and the place was packed. there was drinking, dancing with plenty of excitement in the air. the temp outside wasn't too bad, but i know the water was a brisk 40 degrees! i can barely get myself to go into the water during the summer, so i could not imagine going into that water! i was content to watch and take pictures. dillon was thinking of organizing his friends to participate next year. A group of bag pipers were there to play. the polar bears started singing The Star -Spangled Banner and at the end of the song, a whistle blew and they were off and running.